News

Actions

Park rangers out keeping Utah’s boaters safe

Posted at 9:35 PM, Jul 04, 2013
and last updated 2013-07-04 23:35:08-04

JORDANELLE RESERVOIR, Utah - State park rangers are out on Utah's lakes and reservoirs keeping an eye out for those who may be under the influence this weekend.

Independence Day is one of the busiest days of the year at Jordanelle Reservoir, and there are extra officers out to make sure all those water fans stay safe.

"We are up here at Jordanelle State Park today. We are out here making sure boaters are safe," said Tony Santora, a state park ranger.

Santora was on the lookout for BUIs, or boaters under the influence. But out on the water, it's harder to tell if someone is driving erratically or just making waves.

"That's the hardest part. Usually we will get our BUIs from them doing another violation," Santora said.

Rangers can go to any boat and do a safety inspection, but they say they only issue a handful of DUI citations ever year.

"I think our presence helps keep it down. We talk to people on the dock before they even get in the water. When we see a bunch of beer we go and talk to them and explain the rules. We try to be very proactive about it," Santora said.